Dog Training Basics

Posts Tagged ‘dog training tips’

Most dogs have a natural desire to please their masters. But this can only be accomplished through proper training. So training your dog is not making him miserable so you can enjoy him, but rather making him happy so you are happy. It is a win-win situation. (For more on this, please see Puppy n’ Dog Training Secrets.)

Whether or not your dog is on the top ten list of the smartest, he or she can be trained. Let’s discuss some basic principles in training your dog. First, dogs may not understand English, but they do understand rewards. A wise dog trainer will use a reward system that will teach the dog what is acceptable and not acceptable behavior. This means rewarding good behavior and not rewarding bad behavior. A withheld reward teaches also.

Dogs must be trained with clarity and consistency. Clarity means that the command you want him to obey is clear and the same each time. Be as simple with a dog as you would be with a baby. For example, if you want the dog to heal, use that word each time. Perhaps at first accompany it with a pat on your leg or a shortening of the leash until he gets the idea. Then wean him so that he responds only to the word.

Consistency, say the best dog training books, involves making your expectations of the dog constant. For example, if the dog obeys a command three times and then doesn’t obey the fourth time, something different has to happen for him to get the message this was not acceptable. This may involve sad or harsh words and, of course, no reward. The dog must be expected to do the command every time it is given, without exception. If you don’t mean for him to obey, don’t give him the command.

Basic needs must be met first. These include exercise, approval, safety, and, of course, proper food and water. If the dog is hungry, don’t expect his attention on learning unless your rewards are his favorite food. If the dog needs to relieve himself, don’t expect him to be interested in learning how to roll over.

Have a regular time of training your dog. Hit and miss training sessions mean that the goal will take longer to reach. Make sure these training sessions are not too long, for example, 15-20 minutes is sufficient. Set one goal for each session. Repeat the command until the time is up or the dog learns it.

Don’t be impatient. Remember that your dog is not nearly as smart as you are. Repetition is the key to training. Keep saying it over and over until he gets it. If he forgets the next day, start afresh.

Practice these religiously. No matter what trick your dog needs to learn, the training will demand that you follow these points. It will result in both you and the dog being pleased with the result.

Dog training can actually be an enjoyable task rather than the painful chore most would view it as. However, it can actually be a lot of fun, and so long as you understand that training your dog specific actions or behaviors will not happen overnight, it can become a fun pastime for both you and your pet. But, with the right information and a great attitude, your dog really could be one of the most well-trained dogs in the neighborhood. Wouldn’t it be great if you could brag about how great your dog is as opposed to complain about him or her? I’m not kidding – all it takes is an hour or two each day (more time if you can afford it) and lots of praise. Interestingly, many seem to expect that their dog will automatically heed to their every command as if it is a natural instinct.

It is so important to realize that it just does not really work this way people. It is important to understand that having a well trained dog requires that you do some research to find some accurate information on useful dog training tips to help you through the dog training process. And digging through dog training books does not have to be a dreaded task. Personally speaking, it is my favorite part of training my pets. I absolutely love reading through dog training books, watching videos, and really seeing what amazing results that these intelligent dogs can display. Training your dog is a wonderful opportunity to develop trust between you and your pet. Dog training can be a time when you will spend a lot of time with your dog. One reason for so many different kinds of behavior problems with a dog is because they are lonely, nobody to play with, not getting enough attention, which is why spending time with your dog is so very important.

Always let your dog know that you are proud of him whenever he displays a behavior that is positive. These actions do not have to be monumental feats. Anything small is worth giving your dog a pat on the back and a loving chat. The more you praise them, the more likely they will be to continue their good behavior for you. Dog training does not have to be complex. Take a seat in your backyard on a sunny afternoon and just throw the ball around with your dog. Just by instinct alone, he will learn to fetch and retrieve the ball back to you. This quickly turns into a new little game for you to play with one another and is really a fun way for you and your dog to pass some time. There are plenty of other examples where dog training can be implemented without going to the extremes of detailed, lengthy training protocols. You and your dog will be much happier in the end thanks to you giving him the attention that he requires and applying dog training techniques on him every single chance that you do get with him.

If you’d like to know even more ways to train your dog to be well behaved, play safe and respect your every command, then check out this review of the best dog training book today and see how anybody, including you and your dog, can learn to live in perfect harmony without frustrating and aggressive episodes of bad dog behavior.

train a puppy

When training your dog, concentrate on the end result you’re after, instead of the behavior you want to avoid. So as you start each exercise with your dog, create a picture in your minds eye of the goal you’re aiming for, and hold that image through the session. Steer your thoughts away from what it is that you don’t want to happen.

If you don’t have a destination in mind, how are you ever going to arrive there? This is so true with everything in life, particularly when it comes to dog house training too

It’s very easy to fall into the trap of concentrating on things that we don’t want. This is particularly relevant with regards to training dogs as well. We don’t want our dog to pee in the house, or start chewing slippers, or disobey our commands, or bark like maniacs when we have friends come into the house.

Just think about it for a moment. Suppose you’re about to adopt a puppy. Do you really want to spend the next ten, twelve, or fourteen years of your life chasing your dog around saying, “No no no”? Wouldn’t it be better to guide your dog into behaviors that you want?

For example, instead of thinking, “I really do not want the dog to chew the furniture,” try, “I will encourage him to play with his toys.” Rather than, “I don’t want my dog to jump up on my guests,” change it to, “It would be nice for the dog to sit nicely and welcome visitors.”

By focusing on the positive aspects of your training goals, you’ll better appreciate how to achieve what you want. I can’t think of a better way to get started with training your new dog.

Should You Use Rewards?

A crucially important area that people have finally realized in housetraining puppies over the last few years is the trend away from concentrating on correcting bad behavior, or punishment, to emphasizing rewards.

Rewarding a dog is a very effective training technique especially for potty training tricks. One of the critical reasons for this is that if you make a mistake using punishment, the upshot could be very demoralizing for both of you. Punishment can make a dog feel threatened when she might respond with aggression to being overly punished. Other dogs shut down. They seem to lose their sense of adventure. Some may simply curl up and shy away all the time.

The good thing about reward based training is that it also makes you feel good as the trainer. It’s nice to be a source of praise and treats, instead of a constant disciplinarian.

But the icing on the cake is that rewards based dog behavior training works a treat. It’s due to the fact that this approach to behavior training builds confidence and reassurance. If a behavior is rewarding, your pet will want to repeat he behavior as often as possible. When you learn the best way to use this technique, you will be able to use this method for pretty much any training goal you want to achieve.